Beef and Chicken Pho Wow Eaters at Pho Boston

American diners might not be accustomed to eating their steak in soup form, but the Vietnamese have been serving meat this way for many decades. The meat-laden soups are called pho, and they're a traditional part of many meals in Vietnam. At Pho Boston, chefs introduce Hartford residents to the classic eat—much to diners' delight.

Regulars here recommend any pho that showcases the tripe, such as the Xe Lua. This dish consists of strips of rare steak and flank with well-done brisket, tripe, and tendon piled into an extra large bowl of noodles, onion, scallion, and cilantro. For something a bit lighter, you can also order pho ga, which is a rendition of pho that uses chicken in lieu of beef. The Ga Xe Lua comes with shredded chicken and rice noodles, but you can also order yours with clear or egg noodles—either large or extra large bowls.